Best Defense
Thomas E. Ricks' daily take on national security.

Defense journalism: The 4 most under covered aspects of national security?

Court martial proceedings: Lots goes on here. Hard to find out about.

By , a former contributing editor to Foreign Policy.
1024px-BH_LMC
1024px-BH_LMC

Court martial proceedings: Lots goes on here. Hard to find out about.
The satellite business. Bazillions of dollars spent every year that no one seems to follow.
The lack of sober, serious discussion of the military’s failures over the last 14 years. Easier for the generals to blame everything on civilians. But why allow them that free pass?
What to do about the pernicious role of Saudi Arabia in fostering Islamic extremism in areas that used to tend toward moderation.

  1. Court martial proceedings: Lots goes on here. Hard to find out about.
  2. The satellite business. Bazillions of dollars spent every year that no one seems to follow.
  3. The lack of sober, serious discussion of the military’s failures over the last 14 years. Easier for the generals to blame everything on civilians. But why allow them that free pass?
  4. What to do about the pernicious role of Saudi Arabia in fostering Islamic extremism in areas that used to tend toward moderation.

Image credit: Wikimedia Commons

Thomas E. Ricks is a former contributing editor to Foreign Policy. Twitter: @tomricks1

Read More On Military

More from Foreign Policy

Children are hooked up to IV drips on the stairs at a children's hospital in Beijing.
Children are hooked up to IV drips on the stairs at a children's hospital in Beijing.

Chinese Hospitals Are Housing Another Deadly Outbreak

Authorities are covering up the spread of antibiotic-resistant pneumonia.

Henry Kissinger during an interview in Washington in August 1980.
Henry Kissinger during an interview in Washington in August 1980.

Henry Kissinger, Colossus on the World Stage

The late statesman was a master of realpolitik—whom some regarded as a war criminal.

A Ukrainian soldier in helmet and fatigues holds a cell phone and looks up at the night sky as an explosion lights up the horizon behind him.
A Ukrainian soldier in helmet and fatigues holds a cell phone and looks up at the night sky as an explosion lights up the horizon behind him.

The West’s False Choice in Ukraine

The crossroads is not between war and compromise, but between victory and defeat.

Illustrated portraits of Reps. MIke Gallagher, right, and Raja Krishnamoorthi
Illustrated portraits of Reps. MIke Gallagher, right, and Raja Krishnamoorthi

The Masterminds

Washington wants to get tough on China, and the leaders of the House China Committee are in the driver’s seat.